A new BMJ study says that 0rthopedists overuse arthroscopic knee procedures, “performing them on patients for whom the benefits are questionable and the potential harms are serious,” Modern Healthcare summarizes.

“The benefits of knee repair procedures in older adults for painful arthritic knee or torn meniscus are short-lived and “inconsequential” compared with the potential harms…. Older patients who have knee pain but do not have osteoarthritis should not be recommended the procedure, the researchers said.”

“The steadily rising numbers of patients undergoing the procedure paired with the high associated costs are raising eyebrows among both researchers and insurers.”